In the fourth One Microphone Recording from Sound Liaison, Reinier Voet & Pigalle44 bring us the album Ballade pour la nuit (Ballad for the Night). This is a live to Stereo DXD recording that features Jazz, Swing, and elements of Django. Some listeners say it is the best of the One Microphone Recordings from Sound Liaison. The album is also available from NativeDSD Music in Stereo DSD 512, using the new modulators from Signalyst.
Reinier Voet tells us “I would say I have been as much influenced by Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery as Django Reinhardt, but I started out listening to Django, he was my first love, he was the reason I picked up the guitar.
My dad had some Django and other jazz records as well as some records with traditional Eastern European gypsy music. Somehow that music spoke more to me than the pop music of the day that my friends were listening to. I taught myself at first but eventually did end up studying Jazz at the Royal Conservatory of the Netherlands. Later I also accompanied gypsy jazz guitar masters like Fapy Lafertin and Jimmy Rosenberg.
I learned a lot from these guys, but also from listening to more modern guitar players in that style, like Birèli Lagrene and Boulou Ferré. The most important lesson from these masters has been that, as Kenny Werner says, “Innovation is the Tradition”, they encouraged me to find my own voice and not to be afraid of incorporating my other influences in my version of ‘Jazz Manouche’. After all Django listened to Charlie Christian and Charlie Christian listened to Django!
The roles in this quartet are clearly defined, you could say that the solid rhythm guitarist Jan Brouwer and steady bassist Jet Stevens represents the tradition, they know how to hold a groove, they have a deep pocket, the beat is completely secure in their hands.
Karin van Kooten’s playing is refreshing. She has her own voice. So often in our field of music violin players tend to copy a bunch of Stephane Grappelli licks and then think they are set to go. Not so with Karin, she respects the tradition but dares to incorporate outside influences from classical to modern jazz music. So, getting back to Kenny Werner, she represents the innovation.
I loved this entire process of recording with only one mic, it seems so well suited to this music, it’s back to basics, but what a sound! Nothing basic about that.”
Reinier Voet – Guitar
Karin van Kooten – Violin
Jan Brouwer – Rhythm Guitar
Jet Stevens- Double Bass
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 00:43:04
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | SL1035A |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | |
| Artists | |
| Composers | Crolla, Krief, lemarchand, Lorrier, Parijs, Porter, Reinhardt, Voet |
| Genres | |
| Cables | AudioQuest |
| Editing Software | Pyramix, Merging Technologies |
| Headphones | Sennheiser HD800, AKG 702 |
| Mastering Engineer | Frans de Rond (DXD), Tom Caulfield (DSD) |
| Microphone Preamp | Horus, Merging Technologies |
| Microphones | Josephson C700S |
| Notes | DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128, & DSD 64 Stereo files created by Tom Caulfield at the NativeDSD Mastering Lab using Jussi Laako's latest EC modulators from Signalyst |
| Instruments | |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Power Amplifier | Moon 760A |
| Power Conditioners | AudioQuest |
| Producer | Peter Bjørnild |
| Recording Engineer | Frans de Rond |
| Recording Location | Recorded Live at MCO, Studio 2, Hilversum, The Netherlands, on January 13, 2019 |
| Recording Software | Pyramix, Merging Technologies |
| Recording Type & Bit Rate | DXD |
| Speakers | TAD Compact Evolution One |
| Release Date | July 26, 2019 |
Press reviews
Positive Feedback
This recording is a beautiful example of Frans de Rond’s “single microphone” series of recordings where the entire album is from a single stereo microphone. The image placement from these single microphone recordings is simply astonishing. They remind me of many of Kavi Alexander’s recordings (Water Lily Acoustics) in their solidity of image and focus. And that is high praise, my friends.
Captured live before a audience, the performances vibrate with energy and a good swing. Reinier Voet’s guitar is upfront but does not overly dominate the proceedings. The members of Pigalle44 (violin, guitar and double bass) contribute a strong rhythmic vitality throughout, with excellent solos interspersed. For nearly 45 minutes, the quartet moves from strength to strength…
And the sound quality captured in this recording? Oh, just wow. The single Josephson C700S stereo microphone delivers phase coherence, perfect imaging, great sense of depth, and superior realism…
NativeDSD – 2019 Album of the Year – World Music
Ballade pour la nuit (Ballad For The Night) is an album that brings you a tribute to the music of Django Reinhardt which our listeners have referred to as “jazzy”, “gypsy”, “swing” and “the best”. To my ears, it qualifies in all these categories.
On the album, lead guitarist Reinier Voet and Kain van Kooten on the violin are supported by Jan Brouwer on rhythm guitar and Jet Stevens on double bass. Voet’s guitar and van Kooten’s violin playing truly swings with Brouwer and Stevens laying down a solid foundation for each selection. This is musical playing at its best with sound quality to match.
If you need an album that shows off the One Microphone Recording style, this could be the ticket.
Jazzenzo Jazz Magazine
The latest release from Sound Liaison is ‘Ballade Pour La Nuit’ by guitarist Reinier Voet & Pigalle44, a group that gives a current view of the music of the Hot Club de France and the music of Django Reinhardt.
This ensemble proves that this repertoire has lost none of its luster. The simply fabulous recording quality is a benchmark for the possibilities of current recording technology. It is a new benchmark.
Audiophile Style
The fourth and final one mic recording from Sound Liaison is in my opinion, the best. It is Reinier Voet and Pigelle44’s Ballade pour la Nuit.
This album is an homage to Django Reinhardt. It features Reinier Voet on lead guitar, Kain van Kooten on violin, Jan Brouwer on rhythm guitar and Jet Stevens on double bass.
These guys and this recording just rocks. Pace, rhythm, tone, and soundstage are just off the charts. The precise placement of all four of the musicians perfectly matches the photos of the sessions. The balance of all four instruments is darn near perfect.
As you can no doubt tell, I am a huge fan of this recording. It is one of the best in terms of recording quality I have ever heard. Of course, and as always, your view of the actual music content may vary quite considerably from mine. Nonetheless, I think we would all agree that this recording sounds sensational.
1 review for Ballade Pour La Nuit (Ballad for the Night) (One Microphone Recording)
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I really enjoyed the music. Particularly the interplay between Reinier Voet’s guitar and Karin van Kooten’s violin. The recording is excellent. The fading ringing of the guitars, for example, adds to the musical enjoyment.
David M Davison (verified owner) –